Portable crane



'June 3, 1930; E. P. DouGL-Ass 1 1,161,194

PORTABLE CRANE Filed March 50, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IA I f/UUIT f/ /r/ /ye F 40336::

June 3, 1930. o ss 1,761,194

PORTABLE CRANE v 3 2/ [MG/ 73 aw 4s;

f///7/ e A W June 3, 1930. E. P. DOUGLASS 1,761,194

PORTABLE CRANE Filed March 30, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v Patented June 3, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ELCDRIDGE P. DOUGLASS, F MARIANNA, ARKANSAS PORTABLE CRANE Application filed March 30, 1928.

15 such a crane; and

(e) To provide hoisting and shifting means for the unloading mechanism.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the man- 20 ner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the followingspecification on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved crane shown in place on the top. of a gondola freight car, the body of the car being shown in sectional elevation.

Fig. 2 isa corresponding plan of thecrane,

and a portion of a freight car.

.Fig. 3 is an enlargedend elevation showing a typical form of ,hoistingand shifting mechanism for use in connection with such a crane.

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary 35 section on the line IV.IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on a reduced scale showingthe crane resting against the car. Fig. 6 is a similar elevationshowing the shifting mechanism engaged with the side of ii the car, preliminary toshifting the frame into place. i

Fig. 7 is a detail on a larger scale showing the shifting latch.

Primarilythe device comprises a base and an A frame crane shiftable with relation to the base and carrying self contained mechanism for unloading, hoisting and shifting.

Referring now to the drawings in which 59 the various'parts are indicatedby numerals,

(d) To provide unloading mechanism for Serial No. 265,883.

10 is the body of a typical open top freight car ordinarily termed a gondola.

11, 12 are a pair of side members, preferably I beams, disposed p'arallel to one another, and connected together at the ends by cross members 13, preferably angle irons, and intermediate the ends connected together by additional angle irons 14, the I beams and angle irons being securely riveted, bolted or otherwise secured together to form a rigid base, or track-way for an A frame unloading mechanism. a

At one end this base isprovided with a pair of wheels 15 which form part of the means for supporting the crane for movement from place to place.

Mounted on the base or track-way. is an A frame comprising sidemembers 16, rigidly connected at their ends by cross members 17. From these members four frame members 18 extend diagonally upward and inward in pyramidal form and are jointed'together at the top by cross members 19, 20. The side members 16 are provided with bearings 21 in which cross shafts or axles 22 are mounted. These axles are provided with wheels 23 which are adapted to fit into the I beams 11 and 12, and to use the same tracks or runways whereby the A frame may be shifted longitudinally with reference to the base. It will be noted that these beams co-act either with the top or the bottom of the wheels as occasion may require.

24 indicates a clam shell bucket, having a hoist line 25 and a closure line 26, which lines pass over parallel sheaves 27 at the top of the A frame and thence to hoisting drums 28 and 29 which are driven through clutches 30, 31 respectively. These clutches are mounted on a shaft 32 on which is also mounted a gear 33,which gear is driven by a pinion 34 mounted on a shaft 35 carried in suitable bearings in the hoist frames 36. 37 is a sprocket wheel mounted on the shaft 35 which sprocket wheel is driven through a sprocket chain 38, by an engine or motor 39. It will be understood that no particular claim is made for the design of the hoist parts and that the same are intended to be typical and illustrative only.

40. is a drum shaft, journalled in bearings 41 on the members 16, and carrying at opposite ends drums 42. Secure-d to the shaft 4.0 is a friction'wheel 43, which is adapted to be engaged by either of two friction pinions 44:, 45, which are journalled respectively on studs 46, 47 carried by a rocker arm 48, which arm is oscillatable about the shaft 35. Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 35, is a pinion gear 49 which meshes directly with a gear 50 secured to and rotating with the friction pinion 44, and which through an idler 51, also drives the gear 52 secured to the pinion l5. 53 is a friction control lever by which the arm 48 may be oscillated.

54 and 55 are brake bands for the drums 28 and 29 respectively, and 56 and 57 the corresponding foot levers. 58 is the operating lever for the clutch 30, and 59 the lever for the clutch 31. Preferably this latter lever is connected by a link 60, a rocker arm ()1 and rocker shaft 62 to a lever (53, in more convenient place for operating the clutch.

In making use of the crane it must first be transported to the car which is to be un- 11 loaded. In order to reduce the weight to be moved, the clam shell bucket is ordinarily disconnected from the hoist and closure lines and is loaded in a wagon to be separately transported.

One end of the crane may then be rested on the back end of a wagon and the crane be moved to the car. When the car is reached the end of the crane track-way is raised over and rested on the side of the car and the crane is pushed as close to the car as possible by hand, ordinarily occupying somewhat the position shown in Fig. 5. The motor or en gine 39 is then started and the A frame shifted by throwing the friction pinion 44, or 45 as the case may be, into engagement with the friction wheel 4:3 thus causing the cable drums 42 to revolve and shifting the A frame along the track-way until the latch ('54 is above the top of the car body, at which time the latch is depressed into engagement with the car body. The lever 53 is then shifted to throw the opposite friction pinion into engagement with the friction wheel, thus tending to shift the A frame in reverse direc- "1 tion along the track-way but since the dog 64 is in engagement with the car body such movement of the A frame is prevented. and necessarily the track-way must be shifted upward until it will span the car body. At

such time the load will be substantially balanced and by raising the wheels 15, or pulling down on the hook 66, the track-way may be brought down and the hook 16 secured beneath the car body thereby firmly securing the track-way to the car body. \Vhen this has been done, the A frame may be shifted by means of the friction pinion and wheel to a point beyond the side of the car body. The wagon carrying the clam shell bucket may then be driven under the crane, the hoist and closing lines be attached, and the device is ready for use.

Thereafter the A frame is shifted to alternately bring the clam shell bucket over the car for loading and beyond the car for dumping. \Vhen over the car the open bucket may be lowered in usual manner and after loading be raised above the top of the car then shifted and dumped, and such sequence be carried on until the car is unloaded.

As any portion of the car is unloaded the track-way may be moved along the top of the car to bring the unloading crane over another portion of the car. This is ordinarily continued from one end of the car to the other, and the track-way then similarly shifted to the next car, so that an entire string of cars may be unloaded without removal of the device.

It will be understood that the drawings and description are illustrative only, and that I do not wish or intend to confine myself to the details shown except as such detail may be specifically set out in any claim or claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a track-way comprising parallel rails, cross members securing said rails in spaced position, a pair of wheels journalled adjacent one end of said track-way whereby transportation and placing of the opposite end of said track-way on and against a top edge of said car body may be facilitated. transverse stops adjacent the center portion, and adjacent such opposite end, respectively of said track-way, unloading means adjacent such opposite end, respectively of said trackway, unloading means shiftably mounted on said track-way, latching means carried by said unloading means engageable with said car body, and means for shifting said trackway relatively to said unloading means, whereby said track-way may be shifted upwardly, and transversely across said car body, until said center stop engages said body, and thereafter said unloading means he released from said carand shifted on said track-way to bring the stop end of said track-wav downward upon said car body; and latching means for securing said track-way to said car body.

2. In a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a track-way comprising parallel oppositely channeled rails, cross members securing said rails in spaced position, transverse stops adjacent the center portion and one end respectively of said track-way, sald stop end being manually placeable on and against a top edge of said car body, unloading means shiftably mounted in the opposed channelways of said rails and thereby secured to said track-way, latching means car ried by said unloading means engageable with said top edge of said car body and means for shifting said trackway relatively to said unloading means, whereby said trackway may be shifted upward and transversely across said car body, until said center stop engages said body, and thereafter said unloading means be released from said car and shifted on said track-way to bring the stop end of said track-way downward upon said car body; and latching means for securing said track-way to said car body.

3. I11 a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a tracleway comprising parallel rails, cross members securing said rails in spaced position, a pair of wheels journalled adjacent one end of said track-way whereby transportation and placing of the opposite end of said traclcway on and against a top edge of said car body may be facilitated, transverse stops adjacent the center portion and such opposite end respectively of said track-way, unloading means shiftably mounted on said track-way, latching means carried by said unloading means engageable with said car body and means for shifting said track-way relatively to said unloading means, whereby said track-way may be shifted upward and transversely across said car body, until said center stop engages said body, and latching means for securing said track-way to said car body.

4. In a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a track-way comprising parallel rails, spaced apart, a member disposed transversely across said track-way adjacent the center thereof and secured thereto forming a stop, said track-way being manually placeable in an inclined position with one end of said rails upon a top edge of said car body, unloading means shiftably mounted on said track-way, latching means carried by said unloading means engageable with said car body, and means for shifting said track-way relative to said unloading means whereby said track-way may be shifted upward and transversely across said car body until said center stop engages said body, and latching means for securing said track-way to said car body.

In a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a track-way comprising parallel rails, spaced apart, a member disposed transversely across said track-way adjacent the center thereof and secured thereto forming a stop, said track-way being manually placeable in an inclined position with one end of said rails upon a top edge of said car body, unloading means shiftably secured on said track-way, latching means carried by said unloading means engageable with said car body and means for shifting said track-way relative to said unloading means whereby said track-way may be shifted upward and transversely across said car body until said center stop engages said body, and latching means for securing said trackway to said car body.

6. In a portable device for unloading open top freight cars, a track-way comprising parallel rails, spaced apart, said rails having opposed longitudinal channelways therein, said track-way being manually placeable in an inclined position with one end of said rails upon a topedge of said car body, unloading means shiftably mounted in said channelways, latching means carried by said. unloading means engageable with said car body and means for shifting said track-way relative to said unloading means whereby said track-way may be shifted upward and transversely across said car body and latching means for securing said track-way to said car body.

7. In an unloading device, a portable trackway adapted to be supported by and be secured to a car body and to project beyond the side thereof, said track-way having one end manually placeable on said body, an unloading unit shiftably mounted on said track-way, latching means carried by said unloading unit engageable with said car body, and means for imparting relative movement to said unit and track-way whereby said track-way may be shifted transversely across said car body precedent to securing said track-way to said car body.

8. In an unloading device, a portable trackway adapted to be supported by and be se cured to a car body and to project beyond the side thereof, said track-way having one end manually placeable on said body, power means shiftably mounted on said track-way, latching means carried by said power means engageable with said car body, and means for imparting relative movement to said power means and track-way whereby said track-way may be shifted transversely across said car body precedent to securing said track-way to said car body.

9. In an unloading device, a portable tracle way adapted to be supported by and be secured to a car body, said t rick-way having one end manually placeable on said body, power means shiftably secured on said trachway, latching means carried by said power means engageable with said car body, and means for imparting relative movement to said power means and track-way whereby said tracleway may be shifted transversely across said car body precedent to securing said track-way to said car body, and means for securing said track-way to said car body.

10. In a car unloading device, a portable track-way adapted to be supported by a car body, said track-way being manually placeablewith one end on to said body, unloading means shiftably secured on said track-way. cable drums and operating means therefor carried by said unloading means and cables passing around said cable drums and having their ends secured to opposite ends of said track-way whereby said unloading means may be traversed along said track-Way, means for temporarily securing said unloading means to said car body whereby traverse movement of said means along said track Will shift said track transversely across said car body; and means for securing said track-Way to said car body after such shifting.

11. In a car unloading device, a portable track-Way adapted to be supported by a car body, said track-way being manually placeable with one end on to said body, a power unit shiftably secured on said track-Way, means for temporarily securing said power unit to said car body whereby movement of said power unitalong said track Will shift said track transversely across said car body; and means for securing said track-Way to said car body after such shifting.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELDRIDGE P. DOUGLASS. 

